Uganda recorded an increase in maternal deaths in the second week of April, even as national disease surveillance systems continue to face reporting challenges, according to the Ministry of Health’s latest epidemiological bulletin.
A total of 17 maternal deaths were reported in epidemiological week 15 (April 6–12, 2026), up from nine deaths the previous week, the bulletin shows. This brings the cumulative number of maternal deaths to 224 so far in 2026 .
The deaths were recorded across multiple regions, with facilities such as Mbale Regional Referral Hospital reporting three cases and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital reporting two, highlighting the continued burden across both urban and rural health facilities .
The rise in maternal deaths comes amid broader concerns about the performance of Uganda’s disease surveillance system. While the average national reporting rate for notifiable conditions stood at 88.6%, key indicators lagged behind targets. Reporting completeness was 78.05% and timeliness 72.52%, both below the national benchmark of 80% .
Only nine of 15 regions met the target for reporting completeness, and just five regions achieved the target for timeliness, suggesting persistent bottlenecks in data collection and submission .
Health authorities have urged district-level teams to strengthen coordination and address gaps in reporting. “District biostatisticians [should] work with their health workers to identify and address bottlenecks to reporting,” the Ministry of Health notes in the bulletin .
Experts say delays in reporting can weaken early detection of complications and slow response efforts, particularly for maternal health, where timely intervention is critical to preventing deaths.
The findings underscore the need for stronger health system performance, not only in service delivery but also in surveillance, as Uganda works to reduce preventable maternal mortality.
